Holly
perched on the edge of the chair to prevent herself from rocking. “I see. Maybe
youcan tell me what makes you
think your sister is missing.”

“I
haven’t heard from her in over a week. Can I get you a cup of tea?”

“That
would be lovely.” Holly dug out her notepad and pencil.

“Is
chamomile all right?”

“That
sounds perfect. A week isn’t long. She might be busy and forgot to call.”

“I know
it doesn’t sound like it’s a long time, but my sister and I are very close.
When our parents died, I looked after Mitzi. I’m five years older. We talk
every day or every other day at the latest. Even if she’s away somewhere, she
always calls me.”

Millie
returned with a small tray and placed it on the coffee table. She poured Holly
a cup and passed it over carefully. “Help yourself to the cream and sugar.”

“No,
I’m good.”

“Would
you like lemon? I think I have some.”

“No,
clear is fine. Thank you.” Holly took a sip and burned the tip of her tongue.
She put the cup down.

“When I
talked to her last week, she told me Victor was angry. She said she was
frightened. She didn’t know what he might do to her. She planned to tell me why
when she saw me because Victor often listened in on her phone calls.

“When I
didn’t hear from her for two days, I called and talked to Victor, her wonderful
husband. He was abrupt and told me Mitzi had gone and hung up on me. I was
frustrated. I went out to see him. He was furious that I’d come and wouldn’t
let me in the house. When I pressured him, he said she’d run off with the golf
pro and good riddance to both of them.”

“I
see.” Holly scribbled furiously.

“I know
she didn’t run off with the golf pro. She would have told me if that was her
plan, or dropped by here before they left town. She’d never even told me she
was interested in the golf pro. I know Victor is a liar. He’s done something to
my sister. I know he has. I don’t know what, but I have to find out, whatever
it is. Can you help me?” Millie asked.

“Look,
I didn’t know you or your sister, but are you sure there’s no way she would
have run off with a man without telling you? It might have been a spur of the
moment thing and once they’re settled in Mexico, or wherever, she’ll call and
let you know where she is.”

“No,
she’d never do that. I know Mitzi.”

“I’ll
talk to the golf pro and see what he says.”

“I
understand what you’re saying. I know I sound a little over protective. Some
peopleconsidered
our dependence on each other abnormal. I know Victor hated it. It’s just we
were all we had, for so long. When our parents died, we sort of looked after
each other, even though I was older. Mitzi brightened up my life. We never go
more than a day or two without keeping in touch. It’s who we are.” Millie
shrugged.

“Her
husband says she’s run off with the golf pro and isn’t too worried. Did he
sound angry or upset?”

“Victor?
No. Victor would never sound upset. I think he was angry because I phoned to
check on Mitzi. He was mad at me, but basically Victor is cold and calculating.
He married Mitzi because she is gorgeous. She won the Miss Miami Orange
contest. She’s talented, too. He wanted her for an adornment when he
entertained. Other than that he didn’t have much use for her. For that matter,
I don’t think he has much use for any woman. He didn’t love her.”

“Did
Mitzi love him?”

“I
think she did when she first met him. He showered her with gifts and expensive
trips. She was young and easily impressed. He turned her head. It didn’t last
long.”

“I see.
Why didn’t she leave him?”

“He
would have killed her. She was his property.” Millie replied.

“But
even if he didn’t love her, if someone’s run off with his property, wouldn’t he
be upset?”

Millie
sighed. “No. He’d be furious; the same as if you walked into your home and
found a thief had violated it. He’d kill them both if it happened. Then find
another ornament to decorate his arm.”

“So,
you think he’s killed your sister?” Holly asked.

“Yes.
I’m afraid that’s what he’s done. There’s no other reason she wouldn’t have
called me. And it wouldn’t be because she ran off with someone. There has to be
another reason.”

“Oh
God, you didn’t say anything about a murder.” A shiver twisted snake-like down
Holly’s spine. “If you think she’s been killed, you should talk to the police.
They’re the ones who should look into this, not a private investigator.”

“I
talked to the police. They’re not interested. She hasn’t been missing that long
and Victor says she’s run off with the golf pro.”

“But
did you tell them what you suspected?”

“Yes,
and they laughed. Victor Santiago has money and power and is an important man.
I’mnobody. The police say it’s a
domestic issue. Even when husbands say they plan to kill their wives, they
usually don’t. They did talk to Victor. He was very convincing about her
disappearance.”

“So you
want me to find out if Victor murdered your sister.”

“Yes. A
part of me hopes that she has run off with the golf pro, or that Victor has
locked her in her room, to teach her a lesson, but I’m sure he’s killed her. I
have to know the truth.” Tears spilled over and trickled down Millie’s cheek.
She swiped at them with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry. I’m probably being a nuisance, but
honestly, I don’t know what else to do.”

“Don’t
be sorry. You’re doing the right thing. Do you have a picture of Mitzi?”

“Of
course, I’ll get it for you.” Millie swiped at her eyes and left the room.

“Do you
know any of her friends?”

“She
didn’t have any. Victor made sure of that. He kept her isolated from friends
and family. She went to the country club to play golf and she went shopping.
That’s about it. And she had a chauffeur for those activities. There were a
couple of girls at the country club that she played golf with. I’ll write their
names down for you.” Millie came back into the room and handed a photograph to
Holly.

Holly
looked at the photo of a young woman, maybe in her late twenties, with long
blonde hair and soulful blue eyes. “She is beautiful.”

“Yes.
That’s what got her into this mess. She was young and naïve. Victor overwhelmed
her with his money. She expected to live the life of Cinderella. It turned out
to be more like Rapunzel, but Rapunzel escaped. I don’t think Mitzi did.”

Holly
dropped the photo into her purse. “I’ll do what I can. I don’t have a lot to go
on.”

“I
understand. Anything you can find out, anything at all, I’ll appreciate it. The
fact you listened to me and will try to find her makes me feel a little better.
I don’t know what I’ll do without her, but I don’t think I can live if I don’t
know where she is or what happened to her.” Millie dabbed at the corner of her
eye.

“It
will probably be a couple of days before I get back to you.”

“If you
think of anything else, or your sister calls, you can get a message to me
through theoffice.
You have the number?”

“Yes,
but she won’t call.” Millie said. A tear caught in her throat. “She

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About Me

I'm a Canadian author who writes murder, mystery, medical thrillers, romantic suspense, often set in Montana on a ranch. I recently dived into self-publishing and I love the challenge. It's exciting. Hunted was my first novel, then Missing and Targeted, the third in the series, set in Montana. Another series about an assistant PI, A Cruise to Remember and A Murder to Forget . By Design, on cloning. And I'm working on Death Southern Style set in New Orleans. I'm hoping to finish it by the end of September. Check them out and let me know what you think.